The UMBC Softball team returns from nearly two-weeks off when it hosts UAlbany to open America East play this weekend. The teams will play at noon on both days, with Saturday being a doubleheader.

Scouting the Retrievers:

• UMBC (15-4) enters the contest on a 13-game winning streak  
• Last week, for the second consecutive week, Courtney Coppersmith (York, Pa.) and Kya Matter (Dalmatia, Pa.) earned America East Weekly Awards.
• Coppersmith was named America East Pitcher of the Week, while Matter was named co-Rookie of the Week. 
• Matter picked-up her fourth straight Rookie of the Week honor after she went 3-0 with 20 strikeouts, three walks and four hits in 10.1 innings pitched, while only allowing one earned run.
• Coppersmith went 2-0 in two starts, including her 8th career no-hitter in a 15 strikeout,one walk performance against Quinnipiac. She struck out 25 and allowed just thre hits and one earned run in 14 innings. Her complete game at Maryland led UMBC to their first win over the Terps since 1997.
• Logan Hawker (Mechanicsville, Va.) was named the UMBC Female Athlete of the Week after she batted .500 with two homers and 10 RBI in 18 AB Last week. She slugged .833 and had an OPS of 1.307, and also had nine hits and 15 total bases. She had two homers and eight RBI on Sunday alone.
• Last Wednesday's scheduled doubleheader at George Mason was canceled due to weather.

Scouting the Great Danes:

• UAlbany (9-9) enters the weekend after splitting a doubleheader with Marist on Wednesday
• In the win, Junior Morgan Petty and senior Maranda Jimenez each notched a home run.
• Graduate student Katie Falotico and junior Maddi Petrella both hit a double.
• Petty led the team with three RBI; Falotico and Jimenez followed with one each.
• Petrella went 3-3 from the plate and Jimenez followed, 2-3.
• Junior pitcher Wendi Hammond pitched a complete-game win, tallying seven strikeouts and allowing four earned runs.

Fans can catch all the action on the America East Digital Network, and/or follow along with Live Stats. All links are available at UMBCRetrievers.com